TAMPA, Fla. — A 23-year-old motorcyclist from Pinellas Park was killed Saturday night after a crash threw him off the Gandy Bridge, according to Florida Highway Patrol.
The crash happened around 10:35 p.m., according to troopers. A 41-year-old man from Orlando was reportedly driving his SUV west on the bridge while the rider was traveling west at a high rate of speed.
Troopers say the motorcyclist lost control and ended up colliding with the rear of the car near the Pinellas County line. While the car eventually came to a rest in the travel lanes, the motorcycle ended up hitting the outside barrier of the bridge before bursting into flames, throwing the rider into Tampa Bay.
The motorcyclist was pronounced dead after he was recovered by divers with the Tampa Police Department, FHP said. The driver of the SUV only suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
